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India’s 1st supersonic fighter, MiG-21 completes 60 years with IAF

The formidable Mikhoyan Gurevich MiG-21 fighter aircraft has completed 60 years with Indian Air Force. The country’s first supersonic fighter gave India the upper edge and helped it win three wars against Pakistan.

On the occasion of MiG-21 aircraft completing 60 years, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari flew in a large force engagement exercise comprising of a formation of 14 MiG-29 aircraft today. AOC-in-C of Western Air Command Air Marshal PM Sinha also participated in the exercise to commemorate on aircraft’s completion of the Diamond Jubilee.

The MiG-21’s last operation was the Balakot Air Strike, conducted in retaliation to the cowardly Pulwama terrorist attack on February 14, 2019, which the whole nation is aware of. In an intense dogfight, the supersonic fighter aircraft took down one Pakistani F-16 jet. This was the very operation in which a brave Indian Air Force pilot, Group Captain (then Wing Commander)  Abhinandan Varthaman had to eject from his MiG-21 Bison aircraft and land in Pak territory.

The 1st Supersonics

The first supersonic MiG-21 fighter jet was welcomed into the IAF inventory in 1963. No. 28 Squadron comprised of the first MiG-21 fighters and the squadron was nicknamed as the ‘First Supersonics’. From 2001 to 2003, the First Supersonics squadron was commanded by the current Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari.

MiG21 in Operations

For the first time, the MiG-21 fighter jets saw their use in the war of 1965 against Pakistan. During that war, the Russia-made fighters saw limited usage given the limited number of aircraft and the lack of experienced pilots for them.

The potential of the supersonic aircraft was witnessed during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. The wars enabled the IAF to draw out lessons and experience by engaging the MiG-21 fighter jets. MiG-21’s exceptional performance in the wars left a strong impression on other nations. Iraq and several other countries looked up to India for training their Air Force pilots for MiG-21.

In 1985, Russia upgraded the MiG-21s into MiG21 Bisons by enhancing the jets’ capabilities. Given the old fleet age of the MiG-21s, the Government of India had decided to finally retire the jets. Currently, the Indian Air Force has around 54 aircraft in service which it will retire in a phased manner by 2025. India looks forward to replacing the infamous MiG-21 Bisons with indigenous LCA Tejas and other fighter aircraft.

 

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